Collapsible outlet-box.



W. J. BILLINGS & M. P. GAPPE.

GOLLAPSIBLE OUTLET BOX.

APPLICATION FILED AUG15.1912.

Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

WILLIAM J. BILLINGS AND'MICHEL P. CHER, OF NEW'YOBL H. Y.

COLLAPSIBLE OUTLET-BOX.

Specification of letters must. I Patented'Sept. '1, 1914:.

Application filed-August 16,-1812;- Sci-1:186. 715.288.

To all whom it may concern I Beit known that we, \Vnmm'ia J. BILL- INGS and Miousii I. CAFFE, citizens of the United States, and residents of New York, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Outlet-Boxes, of which-the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in colla sible boxes and more particularly to a collapsible outlet box, junction box, or switch'box in which electric wires are broii ht to a 'unction.

It'is one o the objects of this invention to construct a simple and inexpensive outlet or junction box which may be folded flat after the parts comprising the bottom'and sides 'are assembled, and without the necessity of detaching the parts.

A further ob'ect is to provide a construction which will be economical in material, readily assembled and require a minimum of time to set up for use.

The above and other objects will appear from the following construction taken in connection with the drawings in which-'- Figure' 1 is a pers ective view'of the box as set up, the cover ing removed. "Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the same. Fig. 3 IS a side view of the same, with the cover in position. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the box as it appears when folded. Fig. 5 is a .view' of a portion of the cover.

The several members coniprismg the'box are formed from any suitable material, pref Referring to.

erably resilient sheet metal. the drawing the rectangular bottom 10 is stamped or otherwise formed from; a sheet of metal and twoslots llf nre cutthrou h the metal adjacentieiichof the edges of t e bottom. The lower edges of the oppositely disposed side sections 12 and 13 are rovided with lugs 14, 14 and 1:), 15 whici extend through slots 11 along opposite edges of the bottom 10. The lugs 14, 14 and 15, 15 are bent around intermediate their ends and the outer end portions thereof are disposed at right angles to the sides 12 and 13 respec- I tively. At its opposite ends each side section 12 and 13 is curved inwardly and is recessed downwardly from the up er edge as at 16, leaving a slightly CUXVGt end portion 17 and a longer curved end portion 18. Other side sections 19 and 20 are also stamped from sheet metal andformed witli-lu s 21 and 22 depending from the lower edge t ereof, and projectingintotheotherslots11 along edges at right'angles to sections 12 and 13.

The lugs 21 and 22 are also bent to be dis- =posed at right angles to the side sections to which they are attached, as in the case of sections 12 .and 13. When the sides and bot- ;tom areassembled, the ends of the lugs are slightly broadened or enlarged as is shown,

'so that they will form interlocking hinges ifor ivotally'connecting the side sections to lthe 'ottoml" As is indicated the ends of the Ihigs are cutaway in a curved form and the pointed shanks are spread apart to form the enlarged ends and prevent release of the side lmembers from the bottoim. At its ends each lot thesides 19 and'20 is recessed from the lowe'redge as at 23 leaving a projecting por- .tion 24 at each end corresponding to the recess 16 in each side-section 12 and 13.

far as recesses and rejections are concerned theeotiperating en s of the sides are counlterparts and will register with one another when the box is set up.

I When assembled and collapsed the box lprop'erwill ap ar as in Fig. 4. The slots 11 allow the roe-working of the hinges =or lugs therein, but the enlar ed ends of the latter revent ,the remove or detach- !ment of t eplates-comprising the sides. The side members 19 and 20 will lie flush with the bottom 10. The sides 12 and '13 are arranged at right an les to sections '19 and 20, and will overlie ale ends of the latter and rest flush therea ainst.

.To set the box u the si es 12 and 13 are raised to a vertica position with respect to the bottom 10. When said sections 12 and 13 are i-na vertical position the ends of the 1p s 14 and,l5 will abut against the under 811i} of the bottom 10 and prevent the move merit of the side past a vertical position in one direction. The sides 12 and 13 are thus maintained against yielding'outwardly only so much as the inherent resiliencyof the metal plates. will allow, andside's 19v and 20, which with the portions 24, 24 at their endsfit closely between the sides 12 and 13. may be'raised and swung about their hinged connections 21 and 22 with-slots 11. As soonas the sides 19 and 20 name a nearly upright position the lit will become tighter on account of the curved .portions at the ends of sides12 and 13. By slight pressure, however, they ma. be forced outwardly, the sides 12 and 13 yielding 'slightl to permit them topass, said sides 12 an 13 springing back when (projections 24,24 pass the inwardly curve portions 17 and register with the cutaway parts 16. The sides 19 and 20 are prevented from further movement outwardly by projections 18 against which the abut and also by reason of the inlet that t e right angled portions of hinges 21 and 22 engage against the-lower face of the bottom section in a similar manner to hinges l4 and 15. The upper edges of the side sections 12 and 13 are turned outwardly as at 26 and 27, and recesses 28 and 28 are cut into the said edges to receive downwardly depending lips 30 and 30 formed integral with the top section 32. The upper edges of side sections 19 and 20 are provided with the recesses 29 and 29' which receive lugs 31 and 31 formed along opposite edges of the cover and extending downwardly therefrom at an an le of approximatel 85. U on setting t e cover on the box tie lugs a ong the edges of the cover interlock with the recesses and act some- -what as a clutch, preventing the side sections from spreading outwardly and holiling thecover in place. The top section 32 fits between the outwardly turned edges 26 and 27 and is held in place partly by the inter-engagement of lips 30 and 30 with recesses 2 8 aii'd 28 and by screws 33 and 34, which pass through holes at the opposite corners of the cover and have their threaded ends engaging in corresponding screwthreaded holes 35 and 36 in'the bottom 10. QThfcover has a central opening therein and ;a neck section 37 surrounding the same. It

will be evident of course that other ty es of covers now in general use may be emp oyed. The usual or an preferred form of outlets m'ay be provi ed in the sides'and bottom, as desi ated at 38.

It Will be seen that a very' simple outlet box has been provided, and one which will effect a considerable convenience and saving in storing, handling and shi ping, as it takes up a minimum amount 0 room when collapsed. There is no waste of material in the construction of the same and with the interlocking arrangement as provided, the box is always assembled and ready to be set up in an instant as the parts cannot get out oforder.

As numerous changes coming within the scope of the invention will sug est themselves we do not wish to be limited to the exact details as shown and described.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A collapsible metal outlet box comprising in combination a bottom having slots therein and sides for the box havin projections adjacent the lower edges t ereof adapted to extend through the slots and formed to pivotally connect said sides with the bottom and prevent the movement of said saicr'sides outwardly past a vertical position.

2. A metallic collapsible outlet box having in combination a bottom section provided with a slot adjacent its edge, a side section and means for pivotally and interlockingly connecting the side section to the bottom section comprising a projection on the side section extendin through the slot,

rojection having the end thereof enlarged to prevent its withdrawal from the slot.

3. A collapsible metallic outlet box having in combination a bottom section prov1 e d with slots adjacent its perimeter, side 1 sections and projectionson said side sections extending through the slots, said projections being en arged at their ends to prevent the detachment of the sides from the bottom and also being bent so that they will abut against the bottom section and prevent the outward movement of the side sections past a vertical position with relation to the bottom.

4. A collapsible outlet box having in combination a rectangular bottom section provided with slots along its edges four side sections, means for pivotally and interlockingly connecting the side sect ons to the .bottom section comprising integral rojections on the side sections extending t ough ithe slots in the bottom, said projections being bent around to abut against the bottom section when the sides are upri ht and limit the outward movement thereo said projec tions also being broadened at their ends to prevent their withdrawal through the slots, the ends of two oppositely dis osed side sections being curved inwardly, t e two remaining side sections being movable between said two oppositely disposed side sections and ada ted to be forced past the inwardly curve ends of the latter, and means at the ends of each of the side sections Lada ted to releasably interlock the sides, saio side sections being foldable inwardly to lie substantially parallel to the bottom.

5. A collapsible box comprising a bottom, side sections, projections connecting the side sections to the bottom, said projections being broadened at their ends to lock the parts together, a cover, and means for connecting the cover to the side sections.

6. In a collapsible box, the combination of a bottom part, a side part, and means for connecting t e side part to the bottom part comprising a slot in one of said parts and a lug at the edge of the other part, said lug projecting through said slot and being roadened adjacent its end only to provide an interlocking connection between the parts.

7. The combination with a metal plate provided with a slot, of a second metal plate aving a lug formed to pass through said slot and broadened at its end only to exceed sicle sections h' one of the dimensions of the slot, the lug bein "freely movable in the slot between seid nroadened end and its attached end.

8. A collapsible box com a bottom.

ed to the otten; and foldable toward eac other to lie flush thereagainst, other side sections, and bin connections between the bottom and said other side sections constructed to permit the latter 10 to fold toward each other and rise slightly and bodily so as to lie folded flush ainst said first mentioned side sections on still retaintheir connected relation to the bottom In testimony whereof we afiix our signetures in presence of two witnesms.

WILLIAM J. BILLINGS. MICHEL P. CAFFE. Witnesses:

DAVID STRAUSS, ABRAHAM SANDms. 

